Chapter 39: Care For You

"What are you saying!?"

"Woah…"

With Charlotte just suddenly raising her voice, even Lucian could not help but just take a step back as he glanced at her. And as soon as Charlotte saw that, she just quickly adjusted and composed herself; quickly clearing her throat before glaring at Harvey.

"It's improper to just say those words, Mr. Harvey," Charlotte held her head high as she used the tone she used whenever she wore the mask of a Hall Master, "Maybe I should deduct some points for you during your next exam due to bad behavior."

"What the—There's no such criteria!" Harvey quickly waved his hand, but as he saw the glaring expression in Charlotte's eyes, he just quickly backed down and looked away, "I… I'm sorry, Hall Master."

"But… Hall Master," Emilia also cleared her throat as she looked at Lucian, "What's… your relationship with Mr. Lucian? I know it's none of our business, but we really are just curious…

…after all, rumors can start anywhere."

"Nice one, Emi," Harvey whispered as he raised his thumbs up.

"The two of you…" Charlotte could really pinch the bridge of her nose before looking around her, only to see some of the Academy staff and students that were in the parking lot starting to look at them, "...Fine. I can't really say what our relationship is, but I assure you that it is not what you think and it is purely professional."

"Really…?" Harvey squinted his eyes before approaching Lucian and whispering, "...Are you sure you're not hitting that ass, Bro?"

"I have never hit her butt, Mr. Harvey."

"What are you asking—"

"Ugh! I'm sorry!" Emilia could really only cover her face in shame as she pulled Harvey's ear, "This guy seems to have been dropped as a baby."

"...How'd you know?" Harvey raised an eyebrow.

"Ugh…"

"..."

"..."

Charlotte then just remained standing there as she waited for the two to say something else.

"Did… the two of you need anything else?" Charlotte sighed as she knew she would regret asking.

"Oh, we were hoping to spend some time with the bro," Harvey massaged his ear as he looked at Lucian, "You know, since we're like brothers from another mother."

"We are brothers?" Lucian blinked a couple of times.

"No, that's a figure of speech," Charlotte shook her head, "Maybe some other time. Lucian—Mr. Zhang and I have somewhere to go to."

"...Like a love hotel?"

"Harvey!" Emilia's eyes turned wide as she once again pulled Harvey's ear, "I'm really sorry about this, Hall Master! We… we're just going to spend time with Lucian some other time, then. Mr. Lucian, see you tomorrow!"

And with those words, Emilia just started dragging Harvey away, not even letting him speak anymore.

"Wow… you sure did make friends fast, Dr. Lucian," Charlotte quickly wore her helmet in fear that the two might suddenly return, "Was it also like this the last time you were in school?"

"The only time I have been to school was 25 years ago, Ms. Hall Master," Lucian shook his head, "And I remember the teacher being scared of me since I was asking a lot of questions — that was the last day I met my classmates."

"That… I guess that would happen," Charlotte could really only sigh as she got on the motorcycle; her eyes, finally landing on the large insulated tote grocery bag that Lucian was holding, "What's… that?"

"Groceries, Ms. Hall Master," Lucian shrugged as he wore his helmet.

"Huh…

…When did you even have time to get them?"

"A classmate gave it to me."

"Wow…

…you sure are popular."

It was about two hours of travel from the Academy to the Lotus Pharma Sect, but with Charlotte riding a motorcycle that could only be legally owned by a Cultivator, they reached it in almost half the time.

Lotus Pharma, like most Alchemist sects, was large and wealthier than most other sects — and it was already obvious just from their automated gate, which Charlotte had to tap her access card to.

And as they entered, there were a lot of houses there — and the deeper you enter into the sect, the grander and larger the houses were. In particular, the houses of the Elders weren't houses at all anymore, they were mansions and could even be considered an estate due to their large lot. This was how modern sects worked, it was like a private subdivision with its own community.

Of course, it was already like that in the past, it was just more… casual now.

And soon, the two arrived in front of Charlotte's estate, which had its own gate and fence. They couldn't just get in, however… as there was a woman blocking their way.

"Damn it… her again. Don't say anything to her, Lucian. Just let me handle this," Charlotte groaned as she just revved her motorcycle, almost threatening to hit the woman in front of them. The woman, however, did not budge at all and even crossed her arms and smirked. The only thing that Charlotte could really do was kill her motorcycle before pointing the woman to leave,

"You're blocking the way, Cynthia. Move."

"Move…?" The woman, Cynthia, only let out a small scoff before shaking her head, "Why would I move? This is my house."

"Excuse me?" Charlotte moved, causing Lucian to just get off the motorcycle as even he could feel her agitation, "What do you mean your house?"

"I mean it's my house," Cynthia chuckled before flicking her long blonde hair, "Your father's about to be kicked out from the Council, didn't you hear? My dad's going to replace him."

"Oh… I am aware that my father's position is being threatened…" Charlotte scoffed as she brazenly approached Cynthia, "What I wasn't aware of was your father taking his place…? Your father? Huh… such a downgrade."

"What the fuck did you say, bitch?" Cynthia was about to raise her hand, but quickly stopped herself while shaking her head and letting out a small giggle and then looking at Lucian, "I heard you brought a man to the sect — are you really that desperate… bitch?"

"That's none of your concern," Charlotte also crossed her arms, "And it's not my fault you can't get a man because of your ugly personality—oh, wait…

…your face is even uglier."

"You—" Cynthia was about to raise her hand again, but once again, she stopped and smirked instead, "I heard the new pill you introduced the other day was not selling at all, pft…

…Why would it? Who would believe your lies that it wouldn't have any side effects at all? You and your father truly are desperate. It's disgusting to even be breathing the same air as you."

"I should be the one saying that," Charlotte scoffed, "I'm lucky I'm still wearing my helmet, because if I wasn't…

…I would be smelling your putrid breath."

"What… You dare!?" And once again, Cynthia raised her hand — and this time, she was no longer able to stop herself, or more specifically, her hand, from slapping Charlotte.

Of course, Charlotte did not seem to mind at all; she did not even move — why would she? She was at least 2 levels above Cynthia, and Cynthia would really only end up hurting herself instead.

"W… what the—?"

What Charlotte did not expect, however, was Lucian grabbing Cynthia's arm and stopping her from hitting her.

"Who… who do you think you are!?" Cynthia wanted to pull her hand arm away, but could not do so at all as Lucian wasn't even budging even a single millimeter, "Let… let go of my hand!"

"Lucian…" Charlotte's eyes were as wide as they could be. But after a few seconds, she quickly shook her head and placed her hand on Lucian's shoulder, "...It's fine, I'm fine… you can let go of her.

Lucian did not really say anything and just let go of Cynthia's arm. In fact, Lucian was eerily quiet — and even though he was still wearing his helmet, it was obvious to Cynthia that he was glaring at her.

Well, that's what she thought — Lucian was not even looking at her at all.

"My… My father and brothers would hear about this!" And with those words, Cynthia just suddenly ran away, "They'll… they'll beat you up!"

"...What a child," Charlotte let out a small groan as she finally removed her helmet; shaking her head immediately as she did so, "And Lucian… you… you didn't really have to do that. I would have been fine."

"..." Lucian was still not saying anything.

"You… can speak now."

"Okay," Lucian nodded as he also removed his helmet, "I only did what I was supposed to do, Ms. Hall Master."

"What… you're supposed to do?"

"Yes," Lucian nodded again, "I needed to protect you…

…because I care for you, Ms. Hall Master."

"You…" Charlotte's face once again turned red, "...You care for me?"